Review for axeman accused

AN ORDER has been granted for alleged serial killer Joseph Ntshongwana to be reviewed by a state psychiatrist as soon as is reasonably possible.

Acting Judge Irfaan Khallil granted the order yesterday after defence attorney Themba Mjoli told the court that he had made an application, last week, for alleged axe murderer Ntshongwana to be reviewed by a specialist psychiatrist, but that it had not been done.

The order was granted after the State had closed its case.

Mjoli said he was told that psychiatric patients were reviewed once a month and Ntshongwana’s condition had not been reviewed owing to a “problem” with a Professor Mkhize, the visiting psychiatrist. Mjoli said Mkhize had stated that he was unable to review Ntshongwana’s condition owing to a “conflict of interest”. This had left prison officials not knowing what to do.

State advocate Rea Mina told the court she had been told that Ntshongwana had declined treatment. “If the accused declines to be treated by the prison psychiatrist, there is nothing the prison authorities can do,” she said.

Ntshongwana is charged with the murder of Thembelenkosini Cebekhulu in Montclair on March 20, 2011; Paulos Hlongwa two days later; Simon Ngidi the following day; and an unidentified man. All the victims were hacked to death with an axe.

Ntshongwana is also accused of kidnapping and raping a woman on November 28, 2010, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He also faces two charges of attempted murder.

Yesterday Mjoli put it to the chief investigating officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Jason McGray, that the woman who was allegedly raped by Ntshongwana told the court that when he had spoken to her, it was as if he was speaking to someone he knew.

“Did you not think that this was bizarre?” Mjoli asked.

“It could have been a pickup line, in my opinion,” McGray said.

The defence’s case is that Ntshongwana has had a history of mental illness since 2008. McGray denied this.

“How did he (Ntshongwana) tell her (the rape victim) to call her family and tell them she was with her boyfriend while he held her captive? If you tell me he’s mental, I must object,” he said.

McGray further stated that Ntshongwana’s mother, Phyllina Letlaka, had given him a car to drive.